They dedicated part of it for hotels, though some like the Hampton Inn have struggled to compete, former Burnsville Mayor Dan McElroy said. Other establishments have cropped up around the hotels, including an Original Pancake House and a charter school.

The rehab facility would be located in that busy area, a dynamic that concerns Council Member Vince Workman.

“I do think they’re needed, but I just don’t think they’re a good fit” for the area, he said, noting that he would prefer if the facility sat on a larger plot of land.

Rogers said a security plan, which could include extra cameras and ongoing communication with police, will keep the area safe.

Jason Lennox, who spent time in rehab and now provides consulting services for behavioral health programs in Minnesota, defended the project and pointed to data challenging the notion that treatment centers make communities unsafe. One Johns Hopkins study found that in some cities more crime occurs at corner stores than treatment centers.

Lennox noted that such facilities, though costly, can end up saving taxpayers money by reducing emergency room visits and helping people reenter the workforce.